The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12
THE. FETES At FLORENCE.
THE HISTORICAL FOURTEENTH
CENTURY PAGEANT
and the Ball at Which the Best
Bl0sd OF Italy Mas.
quesAded.
lcoaRrspoSpEsoE or rHE AprIIL.l

FLoRRNcE, May 80 liet, provin,
ciai Florence has awakened from IT.
sleep with vengeance aud assumed
the air Of a capital city. A 10 life and
excitement, flags flying everywhere
bands PLAYING, hurrying crowds in the
streets. Never was there go monster
a festival. The official programme Of
the sights and entertainments filling
more than a whole fortnight, it is
enough in Itself to make one gasp for
breath. 1t ie q drama in many acts,
but putting aside the bewildering de-
tails of mi or events crowded into the
period, II is best to pass over ia the
central motive, the unwilling of the
cathedral facade. This was memo.
rable date in Florentine history, for
thus the finishing touch has been
given to the noble church begun by
The burghers of the republic in the
year 1893. To say that it WAS an i'm.
posing spectacle gives no idea OF the
grandeur and Charm OF the rcsne
Long before hour appointed for thu
ceremony, all Florence surged tow ards
the Cathedral equare, and the reserved
spaces on either eide of the royal
. attorm at the door of y. Giovanni
we're thronged with fuuciionairies ard
invited guests. The City OF Flowers
did honor TO its name, for there were
flowers everywhere and the huge bulk
Of Santa Maria del Fiore was sur
rounded by the faireft blossoms If
summer, Tuscany, every house and
palace in the precincts being hung
with wreaths, ropes and gaTlands,
sheaves and trophies OF flowers. The
buildings OF the Opera del Duomo
were faced with orange trees laden
with fruits; the statues of Arnolfo and
Brunellieschi looked forth on their
great work from bowers Of laurel and
ROSES, and even the austere doors OF
the Misecordia were framed in festoons
of purple iris. And all intervening
wall spaces were bright with banners
and brocsdcI.
Nor were these decorations confined
to the piazza, Besides the forest OF
modern hsgs futte ring on all sides,
every historic house in old Florence
displayed the banners and arms of i,s
original owners, rich stuff5 and time
worn ensigus of the ancient guilds
and hanging gardens OF flowers and
shrubs. But to describe the aspect OF
the town would take us too far from
the cathedral rqusre where the strains
OF he National March announce the
approach OF royalty shortly before 10
am, and shining lines Of cuirassiers
make q lane for the royal carriages.
Thar Majsstjes are greeted vithIearn.
eat applause, but suddenly thsrs IL q
sudden hush. All eyes are turned to
the summit of the facade where the
workmen charged with the man
agement OF the ropes lean
forward against the brilliant sky. The
Queen gives the signal, touching the
telegraph knob communicating with
the cordAge, and the yellow cloths
glide slowly down and reveal the
glistening marbles of the completed
work. There is the Regina Apostolic.
rum in her lofty niche, the fine rose
wis dow, the WE saints and fathers,
prophets and Popes, the heads OF
painters and sculptorp, tabernacles,
mosaics, entablatures, all were at last
clearly seen, and murmur that was
almost sigh Of delight went up from
the assembled people. But the
popular satisfaction seemed too deep
tor words. This was the quietest
crowd ever seen in florence. All
seemed spell bound, as though they
could hardly resizs that the dream Of
centuries was fulfilled, until with
sudden swish and whirl a hundred
carrier pigeons few up into the air 10
hear the Dews to other cities of Italy.
Then all tongues were lo0sed aud the
public Joy found expression. A few
moments and the. great doors Of the
church were Cfiicially opened for the
first time aud the Clergy came forth in
process on, and the mltTed head of
the srehb sboo waving above mass
oil crimson and purple stoles, to bless
Inc new font, the sovereign and the
people. Then all was over, and as the
royal carriages drove away fresh
waves of Florentines surged into the
square tn gaze on their beloved |
Duomo. They are pious people, and
JUS before the unwilling the sight OF
a telegram brought to the royal stand |
caused tlutter in the crowd. at ia
a telegram from the Pope, cried a
CO near me. The rumor was ex-
pressive Of the general ws1.
Il WAS sad that the architect, poor
De Fabris, should have died before
the comp elton OF his task, In the
midst of mis- labors, and possibly over
whelmed by the d fficulty OF ths work.
HIS facade is by no means faultless:
the eye is distracted by its numerous
compartments and pleni,ude Of detail,
and in the effort to follow the style OF
the Campanile and of the aieIal doore,
1t has been rather forgotten that 30
huge building demaaded a portal
correspondingly huge in feet. Also |
the new marbles are pair fully glazing,
and In this climate centuries Will he |
needed to bring the Duomo facade |
into harmony with the J est OF the ex-
terror, This, however, is no moment
for criticism. In AZ many centuries
seven attempts have been male TO
give a fair front to the Duomo, bat
none rose very far from the ground
and two of the number were mere
psinted screens hastily erected Tor
special occaFioos. Long life theI eiore
to this the eighth and as, facade, and
soon may its temporary door 5e re-
plsctd by the broDzs gl'es. to which
the King has contribu ed go. regal
sum, and Tor which designs hSve been
already sent in.
Later in the day, at 2 O'Clock,
grand Te Deum was sungi he Duomo
aud procession OF canons and clergy |
welcomed the sovereigns at the door.
This WIS cheerfully noted by the peo-
pie ~ sign OF coming reconCila ion
be- wsen Church and State. Ths cere-
mony was impressive, ard still more
impressive was the grandeur OF the
noble interior, unspoiled by tawdry
decorations, aad softly lighted by no
less than 10000 candles, disposed in
rows and hung in chande iers.
After this, the days work was still !
far from done. All the world streamed
t. the Arno to see he boat races, and
then a. piRhtiall Florence YVES trans
formed with dszz ing realm Of light.
The Dnomo, itself, all the towers aud
pa aces were traceu in cleaning lines
OF fire, the whole town wa, il1miDat-